Bealtaine Cottage is a permaculture smallholding, as followers of this blog know.
In permaculture we mulch, mulch and carry on mulching, building up the soil as we go.
Over the past two years I have been creating Potager gardens near the back of the cottage, using stone found on the land to create raised beds.
Into these beds I have packed raw wool, compost, ash, leaf mould and shreddings…lots and lots, layer upon layer, of shreddings.
Plants are planted into bottomless pots onto the top of all this, so their roots can spread down deep into the goodness!
This year has seen the extending of these beds to cover yet more of the gravel.
The most useful tool in the permaculture gardens is the shredder!
I pile the shreddings on the soil, wherever there are plants growing, spreading it around the base and everywhere in-between.
Not only does this suppress the weeds, but it feeds the soil and therefore the plants.
You can see this practice at work here in the tunnel.
After a few weeks, the shreddings take on the dark look of soil, making it look like the soil has been just tilled…it has not!
Caring for 3 acres, I can assure you that I do not dig and I have no one who helps!
Does it work? …see for yourself.
No sore back and an abundance of food!
A One Day “Create and Grow” Course…
Bealtaine Cottage will be hosting a day long workshop in creating such gardens, during the month of July.
(There will be some rather rustic accommodation for those who may have to travel!)
If you are interested in attending, email me for more details…
Update on the workshop…A massive response has led me to provide three workshops in July…Sat 6th, 13th and 20th.
All are full!
Sorry if you missed this, but I will be running other workshops as the seasons progress.
coletteoneill2010@hotmail.com
Bealtaine Cottage is also on YouTube…with over 85 videos about Permaculture, planting, growing and living.
Over 500 blogs from Bealtaine Cottage in the archives here.
Donations are always welcome.
Thank you!
Thank you for supporting this blog
